simoncelli

MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi saw his hopes of winning a third Monza Rally title in a row end with a mistake on day two, but he still charged up the order to finish in second position.

Marco Simoncelli has become Gilera's first ever 250cc world champion by finishing third in Sunday's Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang, the penultimate round of the 2008 championship.

Marco Simoncelli emerged on top of a race long battle with 250cc World Championship rival Alvaro Bautista to win the Australian Grand Prix by just 0.223secs.

Mika Kallio has snatched an unexpected British 250GP victory over Marco Simoncelli and Alvaro Bautista after the race leaders ran wide with one lap to go.

Alvaro Bautista, who suffered a last lap defeat at the hands of Marco Simoncelli last time out at Catalunya, bounced back by taking provisional 250cc pole for the British Grand Prix by 0.170secs over the Italian on Friday.

Marco Simoncelli took his first 250GP win in front of his home fans at Mugello on Sunday - but only after colliding with Hector Barbera at the start of the last lap, sending the Spaniard literally somersaulting along the main straight

Second on the grid Kallio had snatched the lead into turn one, but pole sitter Bautista and ninth placed starter Simoncelli soon found their way around the Finn and began to break away.

The airbag, contained within a 'collar' around the top of the rider's leathers, supports and protects the neck and collarbone area during an accident, and can be easily removed afterwards.